Sunday, June 23, 2013

I love that our children will have brothers and sisters. That because they are all close in age they will have the chance to grow up together, to play, to challenge each other, to help each other and be each others friends.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

She already loves shoes and keeps track of every ones shoes. She will put them away for you, find them for you, bring them to you and pick them out for any occasion.

She sure is fun.

These little lady bug jewel of slippers were handed down from a friend of mine. Lexie discovered them yesterday and hasn't parted with them since. She is in them constantly, and the best part, they have little bells so we know where she is at, at all times.

She was a happy girl to pose with her slippers. Check out the little bee next to her, it sings twinkle, twinkle, little star and she loves it. She presses its tummy and sings, 'ba,ba,ba..." Seriously, her cuteness makes any day better.

Today we finally managed to see the vascular surgeon here about my leg. I've seen the OB, been to the ER twice and a regular to the hematologist who now referred me to the vascular guy. Not really great news, just going to get worse. Nothing I can do about it, but pretty much the main veins valves are no longer working. Hence the circulation issues, pain and general awfulness of my right leg. The verdict, most likely surgery after the baby is born when we come back to the sandbox. I'm discouraged.

It's been a rough little day for me. But then I come home and Lexie is walking along with that smile and those bell ringing slippers and a bit of perspective hits. This too shall pass, the sacrifices of a mother are just that, and are worth it to bring another little spirit into this world and into our family.

She makes me smile, she makes me forget about all of the issues and just love being a mom. Tonight she was overtired and Mike was at a meeting. It was not an easy bedtime. So I picked her up and just snuggled my baby. I think we both needed a piece of comfort.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Oh the irony, as I get bigger with this pregnancy and continue to slow down, Lexie keeps getting quicker with a bit more sass.

In just two hours this morning she had managed to empty a drawer in the bathroom, filling a half full aquaphor jar with cotton balls and emptying every band aid box in the trash, floor or dipped in aquaphor. Then she moved onto the front of the house where she dismantled all of the wallflowers and as I was making lunches I spotted her three steps up the ladder to the bunk bed with Owen. Who, as you could most likely guess, was coaxing our 16 month old up each step. There was more, these are just a few highlights of our newly mischievous little toddler.

But with the bad also comes some good. Lexie is finally signing. Still not really talking, but at least now she will sign, 'all done', 'eat' and 'drink.' Really helps in translating the ear piercing squeal she mostly uses to get everyone's attention, or the point and 'this.'

She is snugly and loves to sit on the couch with you. She loves to shut doors, push in chairs, pick up shoes and put them away, close the dishwasher, help with laundry AND turn on the washer or dryer.

The Christmas Eve jammies that just keep giving. Day, after Day, after week, after month. Yup, we are working on six months strong of Owens favorite warm jammies. December to June and still going strong.

Now in my book I call that a pretty darn good investment. He will wait for them to come out of the dryer, he will search for them in drawers or in piles of clothes and if it's been a day like the one below- he will beg not to take a shower so he can keep them on.

We keep our house pretty cool and he sleeps on the top bunk but not under the covers. All great reasons to continue to sport the festive fleece awesomeness of Christmas just a little bit longer.

It was a day for celebrating. I went into his classroom and brought cupcakes and juice for everyone.

His friend Lawson came home from school with him and then we picked up his other pal, Jordan and we took the kids to a new indoor play center called Bees. It was awesome, they literally ran in the door and scattered in every which way and direction and played hard and non stop for over 2 hours.

Followed by dinner at Chili's with his friends, then chocolate cake at home and we wrapped the night up opening presents. He said it was a great birthday and he got everything he wanted. Lucky Boy!

Here are the pictures from the day.

Most classic face ever. He was so excited about the race car.

Boys opening presents and Lexie helping to clean up. She's almost better about that than the boys are these days.

The next day playing with his new remote control helicopter with dad.

Cupcakes in the classroom.

Chocolate Cake and Candles at home.

A few from the playcenter. It is brand new and huge! I figured if we were ever to go now would be the time as I am sure this is the cleanest it will EVER be. Not many photos of the kids, most came out blurry they were all too busy to stop for even a moment for a photo. It was a success!

Saturday, June 1, 2013

So what do you do with a 16 month old little lady who insists on screaming for over an hour in protest for bedtime?

...It's been a week of this, we keep telling ourselves its only molars and will pass- praying it will pass before our flights home in a month...

Eventually you totally cave and let the little night owl come out and watch a late night TV show with mom and dad.

Funny thing is, this totally uncontrollable screamer in the crib emerged happy and giggling and all sorts of lovie the moment she was invited to sit on the couch. She seriously gets away with a lot more than the boys did. Even in the naughtiest of moments she melts our hearts and you have to fight back the smile and laughter when telling her no. What time did she finally pass out that night you might ask... ONE Stinking A.M.

The crew. Wherever they go, she immediately follows and in most cases takes over, knocks over, steps on and wiggles her way through. They are mostly good sports about it. Mostly, being the key word. The other dozen times, they either pick her up and drop her outside the door and quickly shut it, where she then stands and screams- demanding to be let back in, OR they call for me to come get her.

This was a more cooperative play time with all three.

Quick Updates, while I am online and blogging.

We leave in just a month to spend the summer in the States and to deliver our new baby at the end of August. People are getting antsy, counting down days until they leave the sandbox.

I however find myself dreading it. I know, crazy right? I'm excited to see family and friends, but not ready for this next chapter to begin and this current chapter to close. I am relishing the moments of being a family of five, enjoying every little thing Lexie does these days, enjoying the boys and all the things we can now do that Lexie is a bit more independent. Enjoying our mornings or afternoons at the pool and other mini adventures.

I'm just not ready to let this all go, because the moment we leave things will never be the same in our little house. We will come home with a new little person and start all over. That will also be exciting and awesome, but for right now I just want to soak it all in. This stage, this moment and not live for tomorrow or the next day, but to live in THIS day, choose to be present right now.

In the meantime, my leg is only getting worse. The daily shots are getting old and the thigh high compression sock is getting hot. My workouts are getting a bit lamer- but not my classes I still push them hard. I keep telling myself only three more months and then I can work out and be an active and fit person again. This stage in my life my body has more important things to do than continue to be tone and feel good. I need to make a baby and sacrifice. I look at my purple, veiny, throbbing and bulging leg and tell myself this too shall pass. I also tell myself- after this baby comes it will all go back to normal, right? More time with my foot up and less pushing with everything else.

There are still things to be done and I'm finding it a challenge to get them all done. Again, good thing we have another month in the sandbox. I may be the only person thinking this, but I am, even with todays high being 114 degrees, another 4 weeks is just what we need.